Grapevine, &#34;Melody&#34;, NY 65.444.4

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of grapevine named `Melody`, and tested as NY 65.444.4, which originated from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross of `Seyval` (non-patented) and GW5 from New York (non-patented) is described. This new variety can be distinguished by its vinifera-type wine with varietal character, its resistance to powdery mildew infection and its adaptation to the climate of the grape growing regions of New York.

SUMMARY

This invention is a new and distinct variety of grapevine, `Melody`, NY65.444.4, from a cross of `Seyval` and GW5 from New York, which can bedistinguished by its vinifera-type wine with varietal character, itsresistance to powdery mildew and its adaptation to the climate of thegrape growing regions of New York.

ORIGIN

`Melody` was developed by a breeding program of the Department ofHorticultural Sciences, Cornell University, New York State AgriculturalExperiment Station, Geneva, N.Y. `Melody` resulted from the cross of`Seyval` with the New York selection, Geneva White 5 (GW 5)--itself aprogeny of `Pinot blanc`×`Ontario`. The cross was made in 1965 and thefruit were first described in 1969. It was propagated for furthertesting in 1972. `Melody` has been known previously as NY 65.444.4.

DESCRIPTION

Own-rooted vines of `Melody` are vigorous and productive. Annual canepruning weights usually exceed 1.0 kg per vine on phylloxera(Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch)--infested soils. At Geneva, thesevines have produced more than 9.3 kg fruit/vine between 1982 and 1984.Though apt to be affected by site and management inputs, `Melody` can beexpected to be a highly productive cultivar in commercial plantings.

The vines are moderately winter hardy at Geneva, although occasionaltrunk injury has been observed. Following the test winter of 1980-1981,`Melody` had 78% shootless nodes, while `Concord`, `Horizon`, `Seyval`,and `Cayuga White`, and `Pinot` Chardonnay had 6, 30, 64, 68 and 98%shootless nodes, respectively. The level of winter hardiness of `Melody`appears to be comparable to `Seyval`.

Flowers are perfect and self-fertile with small pistils and bloom islate. The shouldered fruit clusters are medium-small by weight,well-filled to compact, and usually borne two clusters per shoot.Cluster thinning is not required, however, some late maturing crop isusually produced. Berries are medium-sized, spherical and range in colorfrom light green to amber. The skin is resistant to cracking.

`Melody` ripens between September 25 and October 6 at Geneva. Mostsoluble solids have averaged 18.6° Brix (13 year mean) andpost-fermentation titratable acidity was 8.4 g/liter (11 year mean).Wine was first made in 1970 and has consistently ranked high in tastepanel scores. The wines have a neutral fruitiness with floral overtonesand slight hints of herbaceousness. Fermentation at 10° C. has producedwines superior to those fermented at 15.6°-26.7° C.

Foliage and fruit are apparently resistant to powdery mildew andbotrytis bunch rot (Botrytis cinerea Pers.) though slight symptoms ofeach have been observed in field plantings. Some downy mildew(Plasmopara viticola [Berk. and Curt.]) has been observed in some yearson both foliage and fruit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the fruit andleaves of the new variety in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1. A-mature leaf, upper surface, B-mature leaf, lower surface,C-young shoot and D-fruit clusters of `Melody`.

The following is a detailed description of the pomologicalcharacteristics of the subject grapevine. Color terminology is inaccordance with that of the "Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart"published in 1966 by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

When dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, itis to be understood that such characteristics are approximations setforth as accurately as possible. Variations of the usual magnitudeincident to climatic factors, fertilization, pruning, pest control andother cultural practices are to be expected.

The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown at Geneva,N.Y.

Vine: Vigorous, exceeding 1.0 kg cane prunings/vine/year, upright ingrowth habit. Bud break follows `Concord` by several days. The trunk isstrong and sheds bark in long and wide longitudinal strips. Bark colorranges from greyed purple 183D to purple 79A (approximate).

Shoot tip: Curved, forming angles as small as 90° with the shoot, woolydowny to cobwebby indument. Tips have a white color with a faint rosemargin. The first flat leaf is rust-brown and cobwebby.

Shoot: Inflorescences are usually borne at nodes 3 and 4 from the base,some lateral shoot production follows bloom. Tendrils are slender andwiry, and discontinuous along the shoot.

Mature leaves: 3-lobed, orbicular shape, with a slightly opened v-shapedpetiolar sinus. The superior sinus is shallow and v-shaped. Uppersurface is glabrous, flat, bullate and green (137B) in color. Lowersurface of leaf is bullate, glabrous and green (138C) in color. Petiolesare red 53B on a green 139C background.

Flowering: Approximately 10 days following Concord.

Clusters: Shouldered, medium-small, averaging 143 g per cluster overthree years. Usually borne 2 per shoot on primary shoots, with somefrequency of clusters occurring on secondary and lateral shoots, as wellas from shoots arising from base buds. Clusters are medium-dense.

Fruit: Medium-sized and spherical in shape, fully seeded, maturing inearly October at Geneva. The skin is tough and resistant to cracking andhas a yellow-green color, 145C, with a light waxy bloom.

Productivity: Averaged 9.7 kg/vine (very productive) over 3 years.

Fruit analysis: 18.6° Brix (3 year average), 8.4 g/l post-fermentationtitratable acidity (11 year average) and 3.13 pH (3 year average).

Wine character: Ranks very high, produces vinifera-style wine withneutral fruitiness, floral overtones and slight hints of herbaceousness.Consistently high ranking in 14 years of testing.

    ______________________________________                                        Isozyme analysis:                                                             ______________________________________                                        Phosphoglucose isomerase (GPI)                                                Rf                                                                                     0.08    0.13    0.16  0.23  0.36  0.58                               ______________________________________                                        Melody   +       +       +                 +                                  Vignoles +       +                   +     +                                  Horizon  +                                 +                                  Vidal blanc                                                                            +                     +     +     +                                  Seyval   +                                 +                                  Ontario  +                     +     +     +                                  GW 5     +       +       +                 +                                  Pinot blanc              +                 +                                  Aurore   +                     +     +     +                                  Cayuga White                                                                           +                     +     +     +                                  ______________________________________                                        Phosphoglucomutase (PGM)                                                      Rf                                                                                     0.10        0.22        0.39                                         ______________________________________                                        Melody   +           +           +                                            Vignoles +           +           +                                            Horizon  +                       +                                            Vidal blanc                                                                            +           +           +                                            Seyval   +                       +                                            Ontario  +                       +                                            GW 5     +           +           +                                            Pinot blanc          +           +                                            Aurore   +           +           +                                            Cayuga White                                                                           +                       +                                            ______________________________________                                          pg,7

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of grapevine herein describedand illustrated and identified by the characteristics enumerated above.